Union stalwart Fred Moore looks back on the humble beginnings of the South Coast Aboriginal Advancement League with an enormous sense of pride.
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As co-founder of the league, which was formed in November 1961, Mr Moore was pivotal in helping unite people in support of Aboriginal people and their rights.
Tuesday marked 50 years since the historic Wave Hill walk-off, regarded as the spark for the Aboriginal Land Rights movement in Australia.
On August 23, 1966 Vincent Lingiari led members of his Gurindji nation and others off the Northern Territory’s Wave Hill station in protest of poor working and living conditions.
Illawarra miners were so moved upon hearing the Gurindji people’s plight, they chose to have money taken out of their pay packets to support them.
One of those miners was former Keira and Wollongong MP Colin Markham. “They actually got out and told their story to Australia, because no one else was telling it,” Mr Markham said.
Mr Moore, 93, said he was proud to see the difference a fight “people thought would be unwinnable” had made.
“Today, the Gurindjis have got their own place at Wattie Creek [NT]; they don’t have to sleep in like dog kennel huts and sleep in the rain ... they’re living like human beings,” Mr Moore said.
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
